The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-10-22

down on the counter. saying:
"Let me see what sort of watch
that is?"
IA Hebrewish young man. with inky
fingers and scores Of pins stuck in the
lapel of his vest turned the ticket
face downward and wrote some hero
glyphics on its back.
.'Twenty-one eighty-five." he said.
without moving muscle.
"Howp''
'Twenty-one eighty-fyc."
.'But 1 only want to look at it."
You'll have to redeem it. then, an
yer can put it in again. Twenty-one
eighty five"
The victimtook q moment to think. 1t
looked all fair and above board. anyhow.
The fiend behind the counter had turned
away and was actively engaged in try
ing to assure young man that he must
be crazy for asking for loan Of four
dollars on two dollar fiddle, and by
the time the owner of the fiddle had
agreed to compromise on loan Of one
dollar. the Brooklyn man had counted
out the ''twentY-one eighty-6ve." He
felt assured that the watch must be
worth great deal more than 421.85, If
the young gentleman who counted out
money SO sparingly would only loan
one dollar on fiddle which the owner
pledged his sacred honor cost ten times
that sum. When the t2l.85 had changed
hands. the pawnbroker's assistant
opened . safe and after minutes
rummaging produced the watch, care
fully wrapped around with brown
paper. The watch was q trumpery
metal one. thinly gold plated, and
worth in Store to sell probably about
two dollars.
II rather think I'll leave this here
and take my twenty dollars back, said
the Brooklyn man after a short ex-
animation. The watch is not mine.
but as LOANED some money on the
ticket l wanted to see if it was
genuine"
The young man opened the watch
and examined it critically.
Say, what or yer givin' usi This
thing amt worth quarter here. it's
only metal"
"WelL just paid you S2l.S5 for it. !"
cit ouwt! You're tryin' to ring the
changes on US. That racket's played
out"
what do you meanp Do you
dare"
~. yer can't bluff rs. We'se useter
them tricks here. I'll bet dollar Is
you've got the other gold watch in yer
pocket"
i" Then he stopped. He saw
that he was in peculiar position. for
he had his own gold watch in his pocket,
and this fact might strengthen the &C.
cusation that he was bringing the
changes"
DO you refuse to return me the
I. twenty dollars l paid your" he asked,
very deliberately.
Certainly. I'll loan yer half case
on that thing. May be n I'll loan yel
the twenty cases ON the other watch in
yer pocket"
Then I'll put the matter In the
hands of the police" said the Brooklyn
! man, a. he walked out
~. you make me tired"
The victim walked to the bridge 1
much sadder and wiser man. His 90
count in the matter stood thus:
8 Loaned TO the poor young man.. ............ go
{ Car nfo ana sunorlcs: ..:..................
'Twenty-one eiehty-nve' Els
Thus the ticket fakir was three dol
lars in and the boss or confederate ha(
: sold trumpery two dollar watch fo
421.85. But Nemesis was stirring ant
on the track of this particular fakir
As the Brooklyn man reached tn,
Brooklyn side of the bridge who should
he stumble across but that unfortunat,
! young man. who appeared to be still
trying to raise the necessary funds fo'
meal. He tried very hard to deny hi
: identity, but At this stage newspape
man CHANGED along, and the victim
begged him to hunt somewhere for
police officer.
stop . minute. 60 easy, boss,
said the fellow. Take it cool, an II
: fix it up for you"
II After some parleying he agreed b
accompany the party back to New
Z York and get the matter straightene,
out conditionally upon "being lie
= alone"
"Pll show you how it's DONE" he be
!, gan. when closely questioned. Its
pretty good racket, but we have b
change about rather quick, for we &c
. dropped on. You see the pawnbroker'
clerk. and sometimes the pawnbroker
! do it themselves. fake up the ticket
q and give them to US. We sell them
. and all we gets clean profit OF course
: we only sell to people who look -